One-fuel price policy will create social justice in Papua: Jokowi

BINTANGNEWS.com
–President
Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said the government’s one-price fuel policy in Papua
and West Papua aims to bring social justice to all Indonesians.

During the launch of
the program at Nop Goliat Dekai in Yakuhimo, Papua, on Tuesday, Jokowi said the
government should not let injustice in Papua continue. With this program, he
said, people residing in the country’s easternmost provinces could enjoy fuel
sold at the same price in western and central parts of the country.

“The premium [fuel]
price is now Rp 6,450 [4.95 US cents] per liter. All this time, for decades,
premium was selling at Rp 50,000 per liter, and sometimes even as high as
around Rp 60,000 to 100,000 per liter," Jokowi said as quoted in a
Presidential Press Bureau’s press statement.

Jokowi said he had
instructed State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno and state-run energy firm
Pertamina to immediately implement the one-price fuel policy, which was also
aimed at boosting economic growth in Papua and West Papua.

“Both transportation
and logistics costs will be cheaper, so commodity prices will drop. This is
indeed a 'step-by-step' process," he went on.

To implement the
program, Pertamina's subsidiary Pelita Air Service, which operates the Air
Tractor AT-802—an aircraft with a capacity of 4,000 liters—will use the
aircraft specifically to distribute fuel to remote areas. Pertamina has also
designated nine fuel distribution agents in 8 regencies in Papua and West Papua.

With the one-price
fuel policy, premium is now priced at Rp 6,450 per liter while diesel and
kerosene are sold at Rp 5,150 and Rp 2,500 per liter respectively.***